Filtering machine



Jan. 2, 1940. c. c. SCHAEFER FILTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15,1957

SJ/l/ZEFf/V INVEN TOR. W

1/ 8, ATTO E Jan. 2, 1940. c. c. SCHAEFER FILTERING MACHINE Filed De. 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TORNEY 1940- c. c. SCHAEFER FILTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 G 6. SCHAEFER, INVENTOR.

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Jan. 2, 1940. c. c. SCHAEFER 2,185,868

FILTERING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 60 6. a SCHAEFE}? INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PA EN OFFICE I m'mamc moms Curt C. Schaefer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application December 15. 1931, Serial No. 119,931

' 3 Claims. (01. 210-191) The present invention pertains to a machine for filtering fluid-suspended solid matter, as, for example, starch. Among the objects of this invention are to improve, in general, upon the existing machines of this class; to provide, in a machine of the character indicatedjimproved means for feeding the filtering belt; to provide, in a machine of the character indicated, means whereby the filtering belt may be moistened in the areas over the suction pans to prevent undue leakage of air around and through the filtering belt, thereby cutting downthe force of the suction mechanism; to provide improved means for controlling the fiow of the belt-moistening fluid;

to provide control means whereby the suction may be applied progressively to different sections of the belt as it travels on its course through the machine; to provide mechanism for adjusting the tension of the belts of the machine; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the acg5 companying drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of this invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and-not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a machine embodying my present invention, partly broken away to show the relationship of certain interior parts;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a substantially central longitudinal section of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the broken line 4-4, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 represents a vertical transverse section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the broken line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings for a more complete disclosure of this invention. The frame is denoted, 50 in general, by the numeral l and comprises, principally, two side frame members and various cross members connecting them. Rollers of varv ious sizes and for difiermt purposes are provided and will be referred to individually when 55 referring to their functions. A supporting and actuating belt 4 passes around a pair of rollers i and 6 mounted at their ends in' the side members of the supporting frame. The roller 5 is an idler which is rotated by the passage of the supporting belt 4 therearound. The roller i is an actuating I rollerfor actuating the belt I and is driven by mechanism to be presently described.

A filtering belt 1 passes around the roller 5 Outside of the belt 4 and also passes around an idler roller 8 at the opposite end of the machine. 10 Both belts 4 and 1 are permeable to water. Tensioning means a and I0 are provided at the two ends of the machine for tensioning the belts 4 and I. These means are provided at the. four corners of the machine so that not only may the II tension of the belts be adjusted but the two edges of each belt may be so tensioned that the belts will run straight through the machine andwill avoid the tendency to run to one side or the other. so

A plurality of idler rollers II are mounted in the side frame members at such an elevation as to support the upper run of the belts in a substantially regular curve. A brush I2 is mounted in one end of each of a pair of levers l3, pivoted 25 at II, and having rearwardly projecting arms l5. Operating means l6 extend through the frame and engage the rear end portions of the arms l5. These may be operated to adjust the brush l2 so as to increase or decrease the pressure thereof 30 against the belt I. The purpose of this brush is to remove from the belt I substantially all adhering solid matter, for example, starch, if this filter isusedin a starch factory. Any suitable container I1 is provided for the reception-of the material removed from the filter belt by the brush.

The belt I runs overa roller I8 having an axle mounted in the side frame member and supporting the' belt I in close proximity to the roller 6. An axle I9 is mounted in blocks 20 slidable in openings 2| inthe side frame members. Springs 22 tend to force the blocks 20 upwardly so as to increase. the tension on the belt I. However, these springs 22 may yield under pressure from the belt as the latter varies in length due to contraction and expansion on account of absorption of water. The amount of tension placed on the belt I may be varied by adjustment of the handscrew 23. a I 7 1 7 From here the belt I passes under the roller 24 mounted in bearings 25 upon the side frame members. Another roller 26 is mounted in bearings 21 secured to the side frame members, and

. the belt I passes over this roller and a roller 28 a shut-ofl valve, indicated, respectively, by the mounted in' bearings 29. From here the belt passes under a roller 38 mounted in bearings 8| secured to the side frame members. The rollers 26 and 28 hold the belt 1 up against the under side of the actuating belt 4 so that both the upper and lower runs of the actuating belt tend to cause longitudinal travel of the filtering belt.

A motor 92 is adjustable longitudinally by means of adjusting means 88. This is for the purpose of varying the speed of travel of the filtering belt. A v-pulley 34 is mounted on the shaft of the motor and carries a V-belt 86 which passes over the variable speed V.-pu1ley 86 mounted on a shaft extending into the speed-reduction housing 31. This shaft has driving connection with the shaft 38 extending out of the housing 31 and into the housing 38. A shaft in housing 39 is driven by the shaft 38 and carries drivegears 48 at its two ends. These gears 48 are for transmitting power to two similar machines placed side by side, as is customary.

Gears 4| are rotatably mounted on axles 42 projecting from the ends of an oscillatable shaft 43, said axles being eccentrically positioned with relation to the axis of the shaft. By turning the shaft 43 in its bearings in the side members of the frame, the axles 42 are caused to travel in an arc and to carry the gears 4| into and out of engagement with the gears 44 mounted on the ends of the shaft l9. The roller 6 is carried on the shaft 45 upon the ends ofwhich are mounted gears 46. Gears 48 and 46 are secured to their respective shafts to rotate therewith. Belt pulleys 41, either integral with or formed separately from the gears 46, surround the shaft 45 and rotate with this shaft, being secured thereto in the same manner as the gears 46. From the foregoing it is obvious that power is transmitted from the motor 82 through the belt 85, shaft 88, and gear 48 to the gears 4| and from these to gears 44 and 46, causing rotation of rollers i8 and 6. This motion is transmitted to the belts 4 and 1.

The brush 2 is carried on a shaft 48, upon the ends of which are belt-pulleys 49 over which pass belts 50 which connect the belt-pulleys 41 and 49 and cause rotation of the brush.

A lever 5|, pivotally mounted on the frame at 52, has a link 53 connected thereto, which link is pivotally connected at 54 to a crank 55 secured to a shaft 56. Operation of the lever 5| rocks the shaft 56 and the crank 51 secured thereto. At 58, a link 59 is pivotally connected to the crank 51 and this 'link is therefore moved longitudinally by the operation of the lever 5|. Link 58 is pivotally connected at 60 to crank 6| which projects from the shaft 43. Therefore, operation of the lever 5| rocks the shaft 43 and carries the gears 4| into and out of engagement with the gears 44. By this operation, the gears 4| may even be moved into and out of engagement with the gears 40. It is therefore obvious that the movement of the belts is controlled by the operation of the handle 5|.

Cross bars 62,63, 64 and 65 connect the side frame members and are provided with ledges to which the edges of the pans 66, 61 and 68 are secured. These pans slope toward a low central portion where each is provided with a drain opening from which liquid passes into a drain pipe 69. Each of these drain pipes is provided with numerals 18, 1| and 12. The drain pipes open into a common return pipe 18 which carries away the liquid collecting in the pans 66, 61 and appropriate valves.

68. A suction apparatus, not shown, is connected to the pipe 13 and a slight reduction in.

atmospheric pressure may therefore be caused in one or more of the pans 66, 61 and 68. The application of the suction to the pans is controlled by the valves 18, 1| and 12. A cover 14 is mounted in each of the pans over the opening in the bottom thereof.

A water-supply 'pipe 161s shown as extending along the side of the machine and as having connected thereto a series of pipes 16 controlled by valves 11. These pipes 16 communicate with pipes 18 extending across the top of the machine and each is provided with a series of nozzles 18 for spraying water upon the filter belt. The pipes 18 are shown as mounted in upward extensions 88 of the side frame members. Upward extensions 8| carry a feed pipe 82 provided with a distributor head 88, from which extend a plurality of nozzles 84.

Operation When it is desired to operate the machine, the motor 92 is started and the lever 5| pushed inwardly to cause meshing of gears 4| with gears 44. This initiates the travel of the belts 4 and 1 and the suspension, for example, starch, which it is desired to filter is now permitted to pass through pipe 82, head 88, and nozzle 84. Suction in pan 68 is now initiated by opening valve 12. However, if the belt 1 is not dampened, air will be permitted to pass through and around the edges thereof so that the suction will be substantially zero. Therefore, it is desirable to wet the belt 1 over the pair 68 and this is done by opening the two valves 11 controlling the pipes 18 over the pan 68.

As the belts move forwardly, the starch suspension is spread out over the surface of the belt 1, and the starch accumulating on the belt is carried forward toward the pan 61. As it reaches this pan, the valve 1| and also the two valves 11, controlling flow through the pipes 18 over this pan, are opened to supply suction and spray water upon the belt over the middle pan. This washes the starch again and draws the wash water away from it, leaving the starch accumulated on the upper surface of the filtering belt. As this starch reaches the third pan, the operation just described is repeated by opening the However, when the entire filter belt over the pan 66 is sufilciently wet and a good degree of suction is secured in this pan,

- the water-spray through the nozzles 18 over this pan may be stopped by closing the appropriate valves 11 so that the starch, when it passes roller 6, will have but little water left therein, although it will still be damp. As the belt goes around the roller 8, part of the starch will drop therefrom into the container I 1 and most of the remainder of the starch will be brushed off by the brush l2.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A filter for washing starch, comprising a pair of frame members, cross-members extending transversely of the machine and connecting said frame members, said cross-members having their upper edges rabbeted for the reception of opposite edges of suction pans, a series of suction pans between said frame members having opposite edges received in the rabbets of the cross-members, said pans being in coterminous arrangement, a plurality of rollers in each of said pans, said rollers extending transversely to the length of said series of pans, an endless filter belt arranged to have one run thereof extend along the length of said series of pans and their contained rollers, a plurality of supporting and driving rollers within the belt and removed outwardly from the ends of said series whereby to move the belt longitudinally along the series of pans, ,means to place a starch suspension on the belt at one end of the series of pans, and means above the belt along said series to run water onto the starch.

2. A filter for washing starch, comprising a pair of frame members, a series of suction pans between said frame members, saidpans being in coterminous arrangement, 'a plurality of, rollers in each of said pans, said rollers extending transing a supporting and driving belt and the other belt being a filter belt, a plurality of supporting and driving rollers within said belts removed outwardly from the ends of said series whereby to move the belts longitudinally along the series of pans, means to place a starchsu'spensionfon the belts at one end of the series of pans,means above the belts along said series to run water onto the starch, an additional'roller for the up per belt, located forwardly beyond the therefrom.

roller adjacent the forward end of the forward pan, and a brush below the additional roller, located in proximity to the filter belt to remove starch therefrom.

3. A filter for washing starch, comprising a pair of frame members, cross-members extending transversely of the machine and connecting said frame members, said cross-members having their upper edges rabbeted for the reception of opposite edges of suction pans, a'series of suctionpans between said frame members having opposite edges received in the rabbets of the cross-members, said' pans being in coterminous arrangement, a plurality of rollers in each of said pans, said rollers extending transversely to the length of said series of pans, an endless filter belt arranged to have one run thereof extend along the length of said series of pans and their contained rollers, a plurality of supporting and driving rollers within the belt and removed outwardly from the ends of said series whereby to move the belt longitudinally alongthe series of pans, means to place a starch suspension on the belt at one end of the series of pans, means above the belt along said series to run water onto the starch, the contour of the series of rollers within the pans of said series of pans being convex upwardly longitudinally of the series, and a brush below the roller at the forward end of the filter belt, said brush being driven to brush the starch from the filter belt after the water has been removed CURT C. SCHAEFER. 

